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Historic Home Tour

Independence's newest feature is one of its oldest. A self-guided brochure of some of Independence's oldest and most beautiful historic homes is now available at the Chamber of Commerce office. You can also find the information on this web site, click here. Guided tours are available, please call in advance to schedule for your group. 

 

William Inge Theatre Festival William Inge, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, was born and raised in Independence. Each spring Independence Community College hosts an annual festival in his honor. The William Inge Collection at Independence Community College is the most extensive exhibit of his works in existence. The boyhood home of William Inge is located at 514 N. 4th Street. Call (620) 331-4100 ext. 4275 for more information, or visit their website at www.ingefestival.org

Elk City Reservoir	The reservoir, located 5 miles northwest of Independence, offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation such as, hunting, fishing, camping, boating, swimming, bird watching and hiking. The Elk City Reservoir, State Park and Wildlife area boasts some of the best hiking trails in Kansas! Spend a weekend on over 4 miles of trails at the state park.
Water and electric hook-ups are available. Open year 'round. Kansas Wildlife and Parks fees apply. Call (620) 331-6295 for more information, or visit their website at www.kdwp.state.ks.us for more information.

Little House on the Prairie Located 13 miles southwest of Independence, 2507 CR 3000,The Little House on the Prairie has an authentic log cabin located near the original site where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived as a child. It also includes an 1872 schoolhouse, post office and gift shop. Little House on the Prairie is open March 22 through October 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call (620) 289-4238 for more information, or visit their Web site at www.littlehouseontheprairie.com.

Prairie Days Festival   2nd Saturday in June

Prairie Days Festival at the Little House on the Prairie is held annually on the second Saturday in June. Prairie Days Festival celebrates the time when Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family lived on the Kansas prairie. Join us for re-enactments from the Little House on the Prairie stories, food, crafts, a character contest, petting zoo, wagon rides on the prairie and much more.

Riverside Park Independence's Riverside Park, a 124-acre showcase located at Penn Avenue and Oak Street, features playgrounds, shelter houses, a miniature golf course, carousel, a miniature train, swimming pool, fairgrounds and Shulthis Stadium. Riverside Park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to Midnight. Admission is free. Call (620) 332-2512 for more information, or visit their website at www.forpaz.com.    The Miniature Train, Miniature Golf Course and Carousel are open from Memorial Day - Labor Day from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. daily and on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Admission to the Carousel is 5 cents, the Miniature train is 25 cents and Miniature Golf is $1. The Mid-Continent Band plays every Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. at the band shell through the summer.

Ralph Mitchell Zoo Located in Riverside Park, Ralph Mitchell Zoo provides a natural habitat for more than 300 species of animals including bears, monkeys and all kinds of birds. Admission is free. The zoo is open seven days a week, hours are 9am - 8pm in the summer and 9am - 5:30pm in the winter. Call (620) 332-2512 for more information, or visit their website at www.forpaz.com.

Riverside Beach Family Aquatic Center The outdoor Riverside Beach Family Aquatic Center is a new 12,775 square foot facility will be home to 2 water slides, a leisure pool, 388,979 gallons of water and lots of family fun all summer long!  The pool is open seven days a week (from Memorial Day to Labor Day)  Monday - Saturday, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.  Call (620) 331-4620 in the summer months for more information. Visit their website at www.indyrec.com